$VIX back into Triangle Pattern, $SPX toppishTVC:VIX gaining some momentum on the daily but cannot deny the damage that was done to it last month
#VIX is a tad harder to chart but it does look like it wants to bottom here
Opening AMEX:VIXM put selling strategy = bull
Keeping tight stops @ support levels
VIX trade ideas
Ten Trading Lessons by the Terminator - The Judgment Day is NearNow listen to me very carefully, folks! I’ve got some important intel on our new mission, and it’s in the financial markets. Yeah, you heard me right, we’re diving headfirst into the world of finance. Buckle up, buttercups, because this is gonna be a bumpy ride.
Now, there are ten crucial mission parameters to keep in mind when it comes to finance, and I need you all to pay attention. These aren’t your average market moves, so we need to be on high alert.
- First off, the markets are turbulent. That means it’s a wild ride, and those textbook curves and lines don’t mean squat here. We’re talking extreme price swings, so buckle up. Forget the boring fictional "ideas" of traders who never actually traded - this is a whole different ballgame.
- Secondly, these markets are way riskier than you could ever imagine. You'll be taking on more risk than a cat burglar with a death wish. And don't forget, trouble comes in streaks and turbulence tends to cluster, so be on high alrert and ready for anything.
- Timing is everything in these markets, folks. Big gains and losses happen in a flash, so you better be prepared for intense action.
- Prices in these markets often leap, not glide. You can forget about predictability, because time is as flexible as a T-1000. It’s impossible to know what you’re in for. I repeat, prices don't just slide around smoothly like a greased-up ice skater. Nope, they often leap around like a kangaroo on crack. That means they're unpredictable and risky as all get out.
- Don’t expect your past experience or information from other markets to be of any use here. These markets are like Skynet, they work in all places and ages alike.
- Uncertainty is the name of the game in these markets, and bubbles are inevitable. You’ll need to navigate through these bubbles and be ready for anything.
- Markets have a personality of their own, troops. They’re not driven solely by real-world events, news, or people. When investors, speculators, industrialists, and bankers come together, a whole new dynamic emerges, and it’s more powerful and different than the sum of its parts.
- Don’t be fooled by patterns, they’re like the fool’s gold of financial markets. The power of chance can create spurious patterns and pseudo-cycles that appear predictable and bankable. But don’t be fooled, bubbles and crashes are a part of these markets.
- Forecasting prices might be perilous, but you can estimate the odds of future volatility. These markets are turbulent, deceptive, and prone to bubbles and false trends, but evaluating risk or profiting from it is another matter entirely.
- And finally, the idea of “value” has limited value in these markets. Value is just a single number that’s a rational, solvable function of information. But given a certain set of information about an asset, it might not be as valuable as you think.
Remember, troops, we’re in for a wild ride here. These markets mislead, and there are no familiar sine or cosine waves to rely on. But there’s a system to this madness, so keep your heads up. If the price changes start to cluster or the prices themselves start to rise, they have a slight tendency to keep doing so for a while – and then, without warning, they stop.
The future's not set in stone, my friends. There's no fate but what we make for ourselves. So let's navigate through the chaos and come out on top.
Alright, that’s all for now. Later, dickwads. And remember, chill out. We’ve got this.
Celebrating 50 Years of Equity Options TradingAmid serious pushback, Chicago Board of Options Exchange (CBOE) went live on 26th April 1973. Options are now a standard tool for portfolio risk management. Not so, back then. They were seen as gambling instruments for reckless speculators.
Shortly after CBOE launch, Fischer Black, Myron Scholes, and Robert Merton provided a mathematical model for computing options prices.
This Nobel Prize winning model allowed options to be priced theoretically for the first time. It was a key driver in making options markets sophisticated, more efficient and much larger.
The Black Scholes Merton model ("BSM") forms the fundamental basis of options pricing. It allows traders to compute a theoretical price to options based on the underlying asset’s expected volatility.
Expected volatility is referred to as implied volatility (IV). Why implied? Because it is the volatility implied from an options price given other parameters from the BSM model.
COMPREHENDING BSM & BLACK76
Options have existed since the 17th Century. Option were limited to speculation and gambling in the absence of a sound and suitable pricing model such as BSM.
BSM offers a mathematically sound framework to compute theoretical price of European options using five inputs:
1. Underlying Asset Price
2. Implied Volatility (IV) of the Underlying Asset
3. Interest rates
4. Exercise (Strike) Price of the option
5. Time to expiry
A variant of the BSM for pricing options on futures, bond options, and swaptions is the Black Model (also known as Black76) which forms the basis of pricing options on commodity futures.
BSM is far from perfect. For starters, it makes unrealistic assumptions. Such as that stock prices follow a log-normal distribution and are continuous. That future volatility is known and remains constant. BSM assumes no transaction costs or taxes, no dividends from the stocks, and a constant risk-free rate.
Even though these assumptions are impractical, the BSM provides a useful approximation. In fact, the model is so commonly used that options prices are often quoted as IV. On the assumption that given IV, options price can be computed using BSM.
Actual options prices vary from theoretical ones based on supply-demand dynamics and with reality being different from the assumptions baked into BSM.
For instance, actual prices for the same expiry and at different strike prices have been observed to have different IV. Primarily given a higher likelihood of a downside plunge relative to upside rally. This difference in IVs across different strikes is referred to as volatility skew.
OPTIONS IN SUMMARY
Options involve two parties whereby one party acquires a right to buy or sell a pre-agreed fixed quantity of a stock/commodity at a pre-agreed price (the strike or the exercise price) at or before a pre-agreed future date (Expiry Date).
One party acquires the right (Option Buyer or Option Holder) and the other party takes on the obligation (Option Seller).
In consideration for granting the right, the Option Seller collects a premium (Option Price) from the Option Buyer.
To ensure that the Seller keeps up their promise to trade, such Sellers are required to post margins with the Clearing House.
Once buyers pay premium upfront, they are not required to post any additional margins with the Clearing House.
Where the Option Holder secures a right to buy, it is known as a Call Option. However, if the Option Holder acquires the right to sell, such an option is referred to as Put Option.
Where the Option Holder can exercise their right at or before any time before expiry, such Options are referred to as American Options.
Options that can be exercised only at expiry are referred to as European Options. While exercising is permitted at expiry, these European options positions can be closed out before expiry by selling out a long position or by buying back a short position.
Premiums for European options are typically lower than premiums compared to American options.
COMPREHENDING WALLSTREET’S FEAR GUAGE, FADING VIX, AND VIX1D
The CBOE Volatility Index (famously referred to as VIX and is also knows as fear gauge) is a real time index measuring the implied volatility of the S&P 500 for the next 30 days based on SPX Index options prices for options expiring in 23 to 37 days.
There are a range of financial products based on the VIX index allowing investors to hedge volatility risk in their portfolios.
In recent months, VIX has been fading into insignificance. Despite huge price moves in the S&P 500, VIX has remained staid. Why such inertia? Primarily because options markets have started to shift towards shorter expiries. Zero-Days-To-Expiry (0DTE) options now account for more than 40% of overall S&P options market volumes.
These very short-dated options allow traders to express views around specific events such as monetary policy meetings and economic releases. Their popularity has increased dramatically over the past few years, with volumes today nearly 4x that of 2020.
To account for this shift in market behaviour, the CBOE has launched the VIX1D i.e., the One-Day VIX. This index tracks the expected volatility over the upcoming day as determined by zero-day options prices.
More on Options Greeks and Risk Management using Options in a future paper.
DISCLAIMER
This case study is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment recommendations or advice. Nor are they used to promote any specific products, or services.
Trading or investment ideas cited here are for illustration only, as an integral part of a case study to demonstrate the fundamental concepts in risk management or trading under the market scenarios being discussed. Please read the FULL DISCLAIMER the link to which is provided in our profile description.
VIX to breakOut on April 24th SPX Crashhello traders,
Get ready for Stock Market Crash - of 2023
#VIX is now on a major support and growing consistently,
on April 24th 2023, it will break out of resistance and shoot up,
Two more weeks of Bulls, then Stock Market CRASH on the week of April 24 2023.
I will be liquidating all my Long Trades, on the next two weeks, and opening more short positions.
Trade:
Safe
Carefully
Hedged
Good Luck and Good Profit
Edward Trader
#SPX500 #SP100 #NASDAQ
VIX Will Grow! Buy!
Here is our detailed technical review for VIX.
Time Frame: 1D
Current Trend: Bullish
Sentiment: Oversold (based on 7-period RSI)
Forecast: Bullish
The market is approaching a key horizontal level 17.57.
Considering the today's price action, probabilities will be high to see a movement to 24.08.
P.S
Please, note that an overbought condition can last for a long time, and therefore being overbought doesn't mean a price rally will come soon, or at all.
Like and subscribe and comment my ideas if you enjoy them!
The Vix TrendThe Trend in the VIX
It appears the VIX is bouncing off its lower diagonal support. Historically the VIX does move in diagonals trends, even prior to this one.
This chart is self explanatory from a trading perspective.
- Double bounces off diagonal support have been good long entries.
- Within 1 - 4 weeks of the double bounces there has been large increases in volatility (150%+ moves). This one has capacity for a 60 - 80% move and your risk is 5% to the downside.
- The risk reward is reasonable if you are not using leverage or using low leverage (2x or 3x). In general just don't ever use leverage, trust me.
- If you are going to use leverage, which i don't recommend be careful and recognize and ensure that the the product on your chart is the same as on the platform you are using.
(There are multiple VIX products and they all move a little different). Also please ensure you weight your margin put down 2 :1 or 3:1 to give you ample room to avoid liquidation (stops don't always work on fast moves so we protect against that too).
- Honor the dashed orange line. Strength and Honor!!
- The orange dashed line means you are leaving with a small loss or your exiting the trade with at least 80% of your original position after making some nice profit. Any move higher than this will mean epic recession and whilst a recession is highly likely within the next 12-18 months, that's a long timeframe in a volatility trade....lets not put our emotions through that.
- I would hope that we would have some direction on this trade short term....within 4 to 8 weeks.
Major Caveat - I do not trade the VIX however I will trade this set up and I have been haunted this chart for some time.
I consider this a highly risky trade and I will only be putting down a small percentage of a percentage of my portfolio.
If you are unsure about this trade, please only place a small fraction of what your had already considered.
I could not pass up sharing this as it really does look like a reasonable risk to reward and there is a defined pattern from a TA perspective.
Good luck to you all
PUKA
vix daily re-accumulation before 150% gains🔸Hello guys, today let's review daily chart for VIX . Entering re-accumulation stage now,
expecting range bound trading during summer time season. Pretty wide range as well,
lows near 13 and highs set at 20.
🔸Similar fractal observed during summer season in 2021. Faded into range after heavy spike,
re-accumulation then 150% pump later during autumn 2021.
🔸Recommended strategy bulls: accumulate / buy VIX LEAP calls near range lows, once we
hit closer to 13, this is the perfect entry spot to profit from a new spike, which should come
during autumn season in 2023. Probably multiple buying opportunities near range lows
June through August 2023. good luck traders!
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RISK DISCLAIMER:
Trading Futures , Forex, CFDs and Stocks involves a risk of loss.
Please consider carefully if such trading is appropriate for you.
Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Always limit your leverage and use tight stop loss.
Volatility in decline - why the VIX index is so lowHaving only recently traded through the most volatile (vol) environments in interest rates and bond markets since the GFC, we are now seeing far more subdued conditions in vol. Many have expressed disbelief at how the VIX index (S&P500 30-day implied volatility) is below 17% when the US is eyeing a possible recession this year, the credit crunch is yet to really bite, earnings estimates are likely due to be revised lower, and Treasury yields curves are still deeply inverted.
It’s not just the fact we haven’t seen the S&P500 close 1% lower since 22 March (18 sessions), but we also see the 5-day (exponential) moving average of the high-low trading range for S&P500 futures at a meagre 41-points. This is not far off the lowest levels since 2011, so traders are getting less and to work with intraday.
There isn’t one reason for the lower vol, so I have put some views on the considerations I see as causing these calmer conditions. I am sure there are others, but these jump out.
1. S&P500 realised volatility is impacting the VIX index – we see that S&P500 10-day realised vol is now 8.2%, with S&P500 20-day realised vol at 11.7%% - both are the lowest levels since Nov 21 – options market makers will typically look at how volatility is realising as the basis for pricing implied volatility. The fact the S&P500 just refuses to fall has also limited the demand for downside hedges- hedges cost money.
2. CTAs (trend-following funds) have been getting progressively longer and their estimated net exposure is ‘max long’ US S&P500 futures. Volatility-targeting hedge funds are adding equity exposure as equity realised vol falls – lower vol begets lower vol.
3. Why sell your equity longs? Funds are taking advantage of the grinding price action in stocks and selling S&P500 index calls and using the premium to buy OTM (out of the money) S&P puts – this means they can essentially hold their core equity holdings and utilise optionality with a cheap/free hedge.
4. Reduced interest rate risk – the Fed are now fully data dependent and the market prices a 25bp hike in May, with an extended pause through to November – with a far more normal distribution in the skew of expectations for bond price/yields (i.e. yields could go either way and not just higher), we’ve seen bond vol (we use the MOVE index) fall from the highs on 15 March. Probable lengthy inaction from the Fed has lowered volatility.
5. A weaker USD has helped lower broad market volatility - The USD index (DXY) fell 4.8% from 8 March to 14 April – in that time the VIX index fell 9 vols from 26% to 17%
6. The Fed’s response to managing instability risk through the rollout of emergency credit facilities was truly meaningful – the market is becoming comfortable that there will be consolidation in the US banking sector ahead of us, but the Fed has cut the systemic event risk.
7. Increased liquidity - Reserve balances held with the Fed are +12% since March. We also see that since January the TGA (Treasury General Account) has been drawn down by $450B to sit at $109B.
8. Corporate share buybacks authorisation hit a new record and nears $400b – companies are the biggest buyers of stocks, and this is suppressing vol.
9. BoJ gov Ueda said on 10 April that YCC is still the best policy for the current economy – the has reduced JGB and JPY implied vol, which again has spilt over into G10 FX volatility.
10. The Fed funds rate was hiked aggressively from 0.25% to 5% - Yet while the US real policy rate (fed funds adjusted for headline CPI) has moved from -8% to -0.2%, it is still negative and to some that are not restrictive enough.
11. The rise of 0DTE (days to expiry) options – fewer traders are trading 20–40-day expiries and the volume in ultra-short-term options means we see less volume in the strikes that feed the VIX calculation.
Trading Strategy – traders adapt their strategy to lower volatility and range compression. Recognising the market environment is pivotal for day traders – this means understanding if it’s a range/mean reverting session or more of a trending and possible momentum day. We can see that when the close-to-close percentage changes are low, and the trading ranges are compressing mean reversion strategies are preferred. Traders are selling strength intraday and buying weakness.
What changes this low-vol regime?
If we knew then everyone would be buying volatility – we can look at the known risks and anticipate, but we wait for the market to react and show it is now a factor – being early can hurt. To cause a material drawdown in risk and higher vol I think it must stem from liquidity. While we can’t rule out a renewed move to hike interest rates, I see the debt ceiling as a real risk – not because the US govt is going to miss a debt payment and technically default; the probability of that is incredibly low. But the actual negative event may come from once we see it resolved and the US Treasury aggressively rebuilds the TGA, and issues close to a $1t of short-term US Bills – this will act as a massive liquidity drain and QT on steroids. This comes at a time when the US could be moving into recession and the ECB balance sheet will be falling faster. A scenario many are starting to look at very closely now as liquidity is the oxygen in the market's lungs.
Printers Go BRRRR Forever Small volatility spike soon, as the dxy bottoms and has its macro wave 5 move.
Markets print their last bearish wave/ a reccesion is announced.
Short lived pump (Should be a huge move to sucker in bulls)
(Look at the Nintendo chart and extrapolate that data over onto btc and now view the nintendo chart as an expanding flat correction in its second wave of complacency.
Don't hold to long as this will just be our macro disbelief rally/ the end of bitcoins B wave move.
Bitcoin is in an expanding flat correction unless we crack 33k which would invalidate the move.
Draw what you want from this chart and its implications.
But in my eyes i'm right and this confirms a 28 year bull run after what i detailed above plays out.
I'm not saying i'm right,
I'm just saying there is way to much evidence caked into the charts for this to be a coincidence.
linked my Nintendo and bitcoin charts below.
BTC was launched at the tail end of the 2008 financial crisis, right after the completion of tradfi's macro wave 3 move.
Tradfi has entered its macro wave 4 move that will most likely complete once cryptos has completed its macro 5 wave.
(We just finished it 1st macro wave by my count)
Really interesting stuff if true.
As Always,
Good Luck And Safe Trading
Macroeconomic Recession Outlook USD looks ready for a bounce despite fears of global de-dollarisation.
VIX is primed for a bounce as its reaching extreme lows in comparison.
SPX is running into major resistance levels and also appears to be forming a right shoulder of a head and shoulders chart pattern.